THE CORONATION

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22579, 18 November 1936, Page 14

THE CORONATION

STEAMER BOOKINGS ACCOMMODATION TAXED LONDON HOTEL CHARGES SEATS TO SEE PROCESSION Vessels leaving Australia for F.nglaiul from tlio New Year to arrive in time for the Coronation of King Kdward V.l II are so heavily hooked that it is now very difficult to obtain aceonmiodat ion from New Zealand. Most steamers leaving New Zealand by the Panama route have very little accommodation left; on some the available bert hs are largely confined to the cheaper classes. There are waiting lists on practically every ship for one and two-berth cabins, for although cabins of the particular type desired may not be available at the moment, there are always cancellations. The Coronation ceremony is to he performed on Wednesday, May 12, in London, and many persons booked steamer passages three and six months ago for England in order to be present at the festivities. Apparently it is very difficult to obtain hotel accommodation in London for the Coronation unless the visitor is prepared to book for a week or more. It has been published that some hotels are charging £7 7s a clay, but information in the hands of travel agents shows that such a rate does not give a true criterion of the position. Fifty Guineas For Seat For example, a Russell Square hotel quotes £3 3s a week for bed and breakfast, with a limit of u week. Another in Southampton Row asks for £-1 12s 6d a week, with a limit of not less than three weeks. To view the Coronation procession from a special point of vantage may prove an expensive proceeding. The Westminster Hospital announces that it has seats available in a social stand opposite Westminster Abbey at 2o and 50 guineas each. It is devoting the proceeds to a hospital building fund.

Apart from steamer bookings by tlio Suez and Panama routes, there are also heavy bookings by the North American route. The American shipping strike is therefore causing concern to passengers who propose to visit England via tho United States, for although the strike can bo expected to be over before very long, if, as a result there are changes in the Pacific timetable, it may be very difficult to rearrange passages to suit across the Atlantic, for Atlantic steamers aro heavily booked. Dominion Sailings There is still passenger accommodation available on the Rangitane, which is to leave New Zealand on January 14. The tourist-class ship Tainui, scheduled to leave on February 3, i} fairly well booked, and there is heavy booking on the Remuera, to sail on February 13. Excellent booking also applies to the Tamaroa, a cabin-class vessel to leave on February 26. The all-tourist class Rotorua, to leave on March 2, is practically full, but there is still accommodation on the Rangitiki (March 11). There is a large waiting list for the newly-converted tourist vessel Arawa, to sail on March 27 and to arrive on May 1. As cabin reconstruction lias not yet been completed, some of the allocations of berths cannot yet be made. The Rangitata, which will leave on April 7, is due to arrive at Plymouth on May 9, so that if passengers prefer to land at that port they can be in London on May 10. Expansion o 1 Traffic

J As many intending visitors to the Coronation are travelling in parties, many are accepting the three-berth, four-berth and six-berth cabins, which constitute the mnjor accommodation available on most vessels. The "coronation boats " are not likely to be the only heavily-booked vessels in the first half of next year. There are already very heavy bookings for vessels leaving in April and .May, for these are always popular months for departure by passengers who prefer to arrive after the English winter. Moreover, passenger traffic to England has been steadily developing in the past two or three years, so that from the point of view of the shipping companies, prospects are bright. AUCKLAND FESTIVITIES SCHEME TO BE SUBMITTED Two of the matters suggested by the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, for consideration by the Metropolitan Committee, which was formed at a meeting of representatives of Auckland local bodies last night, wore dealt with. One of these was the re-naming of streets to remove the difficulty of the duplication of names. It was decided that the town clerks and engineers of the various local bodies in the metropolitan area should discuss this question, with a view to submitting a report to the committee at its next meeting in February. The other question was the proposal to co-ordinate the Coronation festivities in the metropolitan area. Mr. Davis undertook to have a draft scheme prepared for presentation to (lie committee, after which the proposals could be. submitted to the various local bodies for their consideration. This offer was accepted by the committee. FOREIGN-MADE FLAGS NO BAN ON IMPORTS Attention was drawn recently by the Northeote Borough Council to the sale of bunting and flags of Japanese manufacture at one-quarter of the cost of similar Empire goods. The suggestion was made that the importation of such articles for use in Coronation celebrations should be prohibited. A reply received In the council from the acting-Minister of Customs, the Hon. I' 1 . Langstone, stated that inquiries had been made by the (government respecting the question of prohibiting the importation of bunting and Coronation souvenirs from foreign countries. In view of the fact that irrevocable orders for such goods had already been placed overseas by merchants, and of the administrative difficulties which would be met in enforcing any embargo, it had been decided that no steps should he taken to impose any prohibition.